AN ONLY Fools and Horses superfan has told of his delight after his screen hero Sir David Jason autographed his arm in Bucks and he turned it into a tattoo.

Nathan Scotford, 40, is such a huge fan of the long-running BBC hit that he even named his barbershop Cushty Cuts in honour of one of Del Boy's most famous phrases.

He fell in love with the sitcom's tales of ducking and diving on the streets of Peckham after being introduced to it by his late grandfather, who died three years ago.

Sir David, who played Del Boy, signed his left forearm at a convention put on by the Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society celebrating the programme's 40th anniversary in Buckinghamshire, on May 21-22.

The father-of-three said: "It's a British institution and David Jason is a national treasure.

"He was absolutely lovely and so was his wife and daughter.

"Over the weekend I asked a couple of questions, and right at the last knockings his wife Gill came over to me and said 'David, will you do this for this kind gentleman?' "I will forever be grateful that he said yes.

"He signed my arm, and I had it tattooed the next day. I've got something I can have as a keepsake forever.

"Even my 15-year-old daughter - who isn't keen on Only Fools and Horses said 'that's sick, that's cushty Dad'.

"I love it, I absolutely love it."

His shop, in Folkestone, Kent, is part barbershop and part museum of the much-loved sitcom - with memorabilia covering every available space.

There is even a bar just like the one in the living room of the Trotters' flat in Nelson Mandela House, but Nathan now plans to go even further by turning his shop into a living, breathing monument to the hit show.

He added: "I want to turn the downstairs into a mini Nag's Head because I also have a karaoke business called He Who Dares Sings."

When his business was forced to shut during lockdown he questioned whether he even wanted to carry on running it.

He says his wife Jean and his colleagues at the barbershop helped the business rebrand as a pilgrimage spot for the show's superfans.

Jean came up with the new name which was officially changed from Cutting Edge Barbers in May last year.

He says the show, which aired from 1981 until 2003, remains so popular because "it's timeless, it's absolutely timeless".

The convention was originally due to take place last year but was postponed because of pandemic restrictions.